tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72443511965593157292024-03-19T00:41:05.064-07:00Keith ElkinsTHE PONY PRINCIPLES
(Lesson in Optimism Because of Adversity)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-40660345223545182842014-04-25T07:31:00.001-07:002014-04-25T07:31:15.564-07:00Promote Yourself!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I flew into the airport in Charlotte, N. C. on my way to conduct some workshops on team building and leadership for a company in Costa Rica. While waiting on my connecting flight i decided to grab a bite to eat in the large food court area in the airport. As I sat there eating I noticed an airport employee moving around the food court cleaning tables and making sure that the area was clean. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> What really caught my attention was the pure presence of this woman. As she cleaned the tables and chairs she was singing...and I mean singing from her heart and soul. She was literally<strong> HAPPY</strong> at work. As she moved through the area people would lift their heads from there books, phones, or laptops to take notice. It was like a wave of heads popping up. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZzh1go8xPBPzEyaP_9NZW03C-UpZc4EKcC02XKa1kS91uZqGg-LpgVcGl15eVZ6j1g73426bH67pZ8PeGwi-6FvsbeoJoqnVcP4oPs2Kl4OKEPFcRGmG_6nxwrIp9syQXvOjifEPZgw/s1600/awesome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZzh1go8xPBPzEyaP_9NZW03C-UpZc4EKcC02XKa1kS91uZqGg-LpgVcGl15eVZ6j1g73426bH67pZ8PeGwi-6FvsbeoJoqnVcP4oPs2Kl4OKEPFcRGmG_6nxwrIp9syQXvOjifEPZgw/s1600/awesome.jpg" height="183" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> After completing my meal I approached the woman and explained to her that I was having a good day but because of her positive attitude and presence that I was having an even better one. I than asked where her attitude came from. She than explained that she decided a long time ago that if your going to go to work every day you might as well be happy. I told her that that was awesome and if more people adopted that attitude they would be more productive and happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I asked the woman her name, she than put her hands on her hips standing proudly and said<strong> "Valerie"</strong> with the posture of a super hero. I asked Valerie for a hug and she hugged me tight enough to align my spine. Valerie went on to explain to me that her first job in the airport was as a bathroom attendant. I don't know about you but if i woke up every morning knowing that i was going o be in a bathroom all day I am not sure what kind of attitude I would have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Valerie's attitude was so amazing that she named her bathroom <strong>Valerie's Happy Restroom</strong>. Her slogan was "Everyone can always get a seat". She was promoted to the dining area in the airport because her supervisor's knew she would impact more people with that awesome attitude. I had to catch my connecting flight and gave Valerie a hug. She explained to me that she would not be there in two weeks and a I asked Why? She said that there was a company that found out about her attitude and passion for customer service and they offered her the position of director of customer service in their company.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Chills went up my spine. I said to Valerie that Because of your attitude you have promoted yourself from the Bathroom to the Dining room to the Board Room. That's the power of a great attitude. <strong>How will you promote yourself today and every day with your attitude?</strong></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-17822731432729818752012-04-16T05:37:00.004-07:002012-04-16T05:56:20.508-07:00What is Your Purpose?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm4Z2JzHoiPIrLkQUhhqXJ7Aac3yp-nET1oUfAac9nSAh6hP44ohJPhFIh4t9_mzqIGRItb9cVeD2AOz4-exJm5U34iCBOG5LIl5ucb9E3exf1zxrKmweFror6qsyChlkUMYHPegKcfE/s1600/let+go.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 275px; height: 183px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731981576458697458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGm4Z2JzHoiPIrLkQUhhqXJ7Aac3yp-nET1oUfAac9nSAh6hP44ohJPhFIh4t9_mzqIGRItb9cVeD2AOz4-exJm5U34iCBOG5LIl5ucb9E3exf1zxrKmweFror6qsyChlkUMYHPegKcfE/s320/let+go.jpg" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> What is your purpose here in this life? It is so easy to get pulled into other people's lives and their purpose that we lose track of our own purpose, passion and reason for being in this world. Family, Friends, Co-Workers can all distract you from moving closer to the dreams and goals that you have for your life. It's not being selfish to pursue what fulfills you and gives you a sense of making a difference, not just in "THE" world but "YOUR" world.</div><div> </div><div> Personal or professional growth and satisfaction is connected to moving in a direction that makes you feel more whole and complete as an individual. When you expand as an individual you actually expand the lives of the people around you. Staying focused on your personal or professional development is not selfish... it is selfless because of the effect it will have on others. Stay true to yourself and as you expand you will also help others to expand as well.</div><div> </div><div align="center">Live Out Loud!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-49055312715992960352012-04-12T04:20:00.004-07:002012-04-12T04:34:37.329-07:00Disconnect and Detox Your Mind!<div align="center">"It's become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity"</div><div align="center"> ---Albert Einstien</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> Have you looked around you lately? Everyone is either on their smart phone, ipad, laptop, or listening to an ipod. Facebook has become our way of interacting with each other rather than actually getting "face time" and speaking to each other. Have you received Happy Birthday messages through facebook? Is it the same as getting a card that has a hand written message from a friend or family member?</div><div align="left"> Don't get me wrong I have embraced technology just like everyone else...it does help to make things more efficient and a whole lot faster. What I am trying to say is that we need to go on a technology fast from time to time to detox our minds, helping us to back out of the constant noise that we are bombarded with all the time. You always hear about detoxing your body to cleanse it of contaminates for better health but we don't usually hear of the same for our minds.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"> Make it a point to disconnect form technology and detox your mind.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Live Out Loud!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-42320167009951021082012-02-16T05:12:00.000-08:002012-02-16T05:13:45.921-08:00Adopt The Attitude of KaizenAdopt the Attitude of Kaizen<br /><br />“<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/practice-as-if-you-are-the-worst-perform-as-if/762247.html">Practice as if you are the worst, perform as if you are the best.</a>”<br /><br />Do you have a personal rating system to measure where you are in any area of your life? It’s interesting in areas such as work, and school there are systems in place that measure performance, however when it comes to our own lives we never seem to have that system in place. The Japanese have a term called Kaizen. It means constant improvement. The concept that we should always be growing and improving in all areas of our lives is important.<br /><br />Develop a rating system that helps you to measure where you are at in any given moment. When I coach individuals or groups I will stop them at certain points and tell them to rate themselves based on attitude, energy, and effort. I have them use a rating system from 1 to 10. 1 is the stinkiest, slimiest, sloppiest they could be and 10 is the super, shiniest, sharpest they could be. By monitoring where we are on a constant basis we can adjust our performance and attitudes.<br /><br />I am not suggesting that you try to be a 10 all the time. That would be exhausting. I am suggesting that you pay attention to where you are so that you know how much you have improved, or need to. By adopting a system to evaluate personal improvement and performance we can save time and be much more effective in the Kaizen of our health and fitness, relationships, career and any other area that needs improvement.<br /><br />Keep a journal and document your progress. If your life is worth living it is worth documenting. By journaling you can reflect on where and how you improved and develop a road map for success. It’s your life, get started now.<br /><br />Live Out Loud!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-22680980610588364672011-11-14T06:04:00.000-08:002011-11-14T06:06:44.285-08:00Be More ChildLike.<div align="left"><br />“<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/great_is_the_man_who_has_not_lost_his_childlike/215861.html">Happy is the person who has not lost their childlike heart.</a>”<br />--Keith Elkins<br /><br />Think back to when you were a child and think of how open you were to experiencing the world around you…The excitement of each new thing or experience that you came across. Something as simple as seeing a butterfly or getting messy while finger painting. Sometimes we lose track of the qualities that we had as children.<br /><br />As adults we get distracted thinking that we have to always be serious when it comes to work and all the adult activities and responsibilities that we have. I am not talking about becoming irresponsible and approaching everything we do as a joke. I am talking about holding onto and reminding ourselves of the value of always being childlike. The following are just a few of those qualities.<br /><br />Being in the Moment: When children are at play that is all that they are focused on. When they are eating that is all that they are focused on. When they are reading or being read to that is all that they are focused on. They are not thinking about what happened yesterday or what they need to do tomorrow. Being childlike means being focused only on the present.<br /><br />Imagination/Creativity: Children have the most vivid imaginations on earth. They can sit and play with toys for hours making up imaginary people and situations. When they color or draw it is unbelievable what they can create simply because they have no mental limitations as to what is possible. I have a game that I play with my grandson called the story game. Each one of us tells the other a story that we totally made up in the moment. It gets pretty interesting at times. What story could you make up?<br /><br />Persistence: WOW! This is a big one. As adults we often get discouraged and look at failures as the end. When someone says “No” to us we simply give up. A child’s persistence is without fatigue. Have you ever seen that small child in the store that keeps asking for a piece of candy or a toy and the parent starts off by saying “No” to the child? Then ten minutes later that child has exactly what they wanted before leaving the store. Now that’s persistence!<br /><br />Smiling and Laughing : As we grow up sometimes we control our natural instinct to smile more and laugh out loud. Make sure to find joy in the moment and never hesitate to smile or laugh… laughing at yourself is an extremely valuable skill. Make it a point to laugh and smile as much as you can throughout the day. You will change the quality of your life as well as the people around you.<br /><br />I Challenge you to take an inventory of some of the valuable childlike qualities that we all had at one time and make it a point to start using them to improve the quality of your life.<br /><br />LIVE OUT LOUD!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-408230134680861602011-11-07T05:24:00.000-08:002011-11-07T05:26:10.713-08:00Back Out of the Noise.“It has become appallingly clear that our technology has surpassed our humanity”<br />---Albert Einstein <br /><br />How many hours a day are you connected to technology? The 800 pound Gorilla, used to be the television but now it is email, facebook, twitter, laptops, smart phones, or ipads. If you sat down and figured out exactly how much time you are actually connected…it would probably shock you. I love technology and I think it’s necessary and valuable in today’s world. I also think that because we are so connected at all times that we have become disconnected to many things around us.<br /><br />It is important to back away from the noise. Just like going on vacation… when you come back you are refreshed and re-energized. In the workplace it is necessary to utilize technology but outside of work it is a good idea to not answer every phone call or constantly check emails, or facebook. Recent research demonstrates that couples taking their laptops, ipads, and smartphones in the bedroom contributes to marital disconnect. Rather than connecting with conversation and in other ways… use your imagination. It does just the opposite.<br /><br />How many times have you been having a one on one conversation with someone and you, or both of you are constantly scanning your smart phone during the conversation? The challenge is that everything we do is a habit, so being always connected to technology becomes such we don’t even notice that we are doing it. It’s really about being more balanced in all that we do and making the necessary adjustments to get there.<br /><br />I challenge you to take time to get outside, have conversations, spend quality time with family and friends and go on a technology fast for just a block of time everyday. You’ll be glad that you did.<br /><br />LIVE OUT LOUD!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-13369828649971124562011-11-05T06:35:00.000-07:002011-11-05T06:39:25.222-07:00How Resilient Are You?<div align="center"><br /><br />Setbacks are setups for a comeback<br /><br /><br />How do you deal with setbacks and adversity? How do you think, feel, and act when things don’t go the way you expect them to? Do you get frustrated, angry, sad, or more determined? We all go through challenges in relationships, finances, career, family, and health. The key is what you focus on the most. If you focus on frustration…that is exactly what will grow and expand. Instead work on looking past the obstacle and focus on overcoming it and getting more creative about the solutions that you come up with.<br /><br />There are four ways to empower yourself with the ability of being more resilient when challenged by setbacks. They are:<br /><br />Face It: Very often the basic human instinct when faced with problems is to ignore, or avoid them at all costs as if they will just disappear. We all know that this strategy does nothing but prolong the inevitable. Things don’t improve, they actually get worse. Facing up to challenges is the best way to overcome them.<br /><br />Handle It: After facing your challenges you are ready to start handling them. At this point you can clearly understand what your challenge is and what you need to do to overcome it. Focus more on building a strategy.<br /><br />Accept It: Accept the fact that you are not in control of what may happen to you at all times. Life comes at you from some crazy directions and you need to accept that you can’t control everything. Also accept the fact that you are in control of how you respond to things that happen.<br /><br />Let It Go: I like to say Let go and Let Grow. Challenges happen and if you get angry, depressed, frustrated and hold onto the anger and don’t let it go it will consume you. If you let go of the negative thoughts and emotions and allow yourself to adopt more positive and healthier ones you will be much more successful.<br /><br />Just remember that obstacles are not there to obstruct you but to instruct you. Get started today in adopting the proper attitudes necessary to be more successful in life.<br /><br />LIVE OUT LOUD!!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-37431846578872529832011-11-02T05:47:00.000-07:002011-11-02T05:49:26.109-07:00Be The CEO of You Inc.“<a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/success_means_having_the_courage-the/163054.html">Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be</a>”<br />---George Sheehan<br /><br />What if you conducted your life as if you were the Chief Operating Officer of a major corporation called YOU Inc.? How would you conduct yourself? What would be the mission, vision, and values for YOU Inc.?<br /><br />Most of us wander through life letting life happen to us rather than creating a life that is fulfilling, passionate, and successful…not only for us but also the people around us. Your mission for You, Inc. should be to create a personal business plan outlining areas like your physical health, family, finances, education, spiritual growth, etc. Remember that everything is created twice, first in the mind’s eye and than in the real world. If you never sit down and develop philosophies and framework for each and every area than you are simply wishing your life away. It’s almost like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree. You’re never going to get any closer to what you want.<br /><br />I’m going to give you three exercises to get you started. If you have read any of my articles you know that I have a personal strategy that I call “The Power of Three”. I look at three things that I can do daily to move forward towards anything that I want to achieve.<br /><br />Exercise #1: What is Your Brand?<br /><br />Come up with your personal brand or logo for YOU Inc. something that represents you and what you stand for. Please don’t come up with a heart or a smiley face. Design a symbol that truly represents you.<br /><br />Exercise #2: Who is on Your Board of Directors?<br /><br />Now I want you to fill six seats on your board of directors with individuals either living or not. It could be someone that you have read about in history that had the experience or values that you need on your board. Take your time and pick individuals that you would want to be surrounded by to give you guidance and good counsel.<br /><br />Exercise #3: Who is Your Everyday HERO?<br /><br />Think about someone that is living that inspires you to be a better person because of the example that they demonstrate in their own life.<br />So, your homework is to complete these three exercises to get closer in making YOU, Inc a Great Success. Get started!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-52634047895064421502011-11-01T13:00:00.000-07:002011-11-01T13:01:14.122-07:00Choose Happiness!Valerie’s Happy Restroom<br /><br />Recently I flew into the airport in Charlotte North Carolina to catch a connecting flight to Costa Rica. While in the airport I was having lunch and then it happened. I noticed a woman coming through the dining area cleaning tables. There was something different about her. She cleaned the tables like Picasso would paint a master piece and with just as much passion. Not only that, she was dancing and singing while doing so. Not dancing and singing like someone who just wanted attention. She did it from a soul level; she was truly a happy person.<br /><br />I noticed as she went through the dining area cleaning, dancing, and singing that everyone around just lit up. People sitting reading their newspaper or on their laptops all of the sudden stopped looked up and smiles popped up on everyone’s faces like a field of flowers opening their blooms. After I completed my lunch I had to meet this woman. I walked up to her and said. Excuse me, I was having a good day however since I have seen you I’m having a great day. What is your name? She responded with joy and pride “Valerie”.<br /><br />I then asked her why she was so happy. She said “If you can’t have fun at work don’t go”. She explained that happiness is a choice and that she chooses to be happy and chooses her attitude. She followed up with the fact that she had worked in the airport for two years and she started as a restroom attendant. Not a position that most people would be happy about. Not Valerie though she not only chose her attitude she called her restroom, Valerie’s Happy Restroom. She even posted clips on You Tube. She was than promoted to the dining areas because her supervisors felt like she would come into contact with more people.<br /><br />I asked Valerie if I could have a hug and she gave me a hug that was so strong it would embarrass a grizzly bear. I asked her if I could take a picture of her and she agreed without hesitation. Valerie then told me that she wouldn’t be in the dining area the next time I came through the airport in Charlotte. I asked why? She said that a company in the airport heard about her attitude and joyful spirit and they hired her to be their organizations customer service representative. WOW! Talk about your attitude determining your altitude. Valerie not only affected the lives of anyone that came into contact with her she also affected her own. Valerie promoted herself from the restroom to the dining room to customer service representative for a large company.<br /><br />Ask yourself this question; what impact is your attitude having on your life and the lives of the people you come into contact with? You can choose!<br /><br />LIVE OUT LOUD!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-17370878455611448362011-07-17T09:19:00.000-07:002011-07-17T09:21:33.558-07:00Life Lessons from Francis<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Life Lessons from Francis<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">By Keith Elkins<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">We all have morning rituals after we get out of bed. After I go through mine at home, I go to the same restaurant for breakfast and to read the morning newspaper. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>My favorite part of the paper is the style section with the comic strips. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most of the rest of the paper is mostly gloom and doom so I try to skim past most of that. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Have you ever noticed that whether its television news or newspapers, the media seems to market bad news because after all bad news sells.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>After going to the same place for breakfast for quite some time I noticed a gentleman, who’s job it is to make sure that the dining area as well as the bathrooms and even the parking lot were always clean for all of the customers. He always walked around with a smile on his face and greeted each customer with good morning, good morning always repeating it twice and he never seemed to be in a poor mood. I became quite intrigued by his attention to detail and attitude when it came to keeping everything so clean. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This job most people would turn their nose up to thinking that they were too good to do it. However he approached it as an artist like Picasso giving great attention to every detail no matter how routine the task was.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">One day I had to ask this gentleman what his name was. He told me his name was Francis. I noticed that he had what seemed to be an African accent. I asked him where he was from and he enthusiastically said that he was from Kenya. His accent was thick but his enthusiasm was contagious and I worked very hard to focus on understanding what he was saying to me. Francis told me that in his home country he was an executive assistant to high level politicians. Francis also told me about how proud he was of his children and how they had worked hard to create successful careers. Francis was responsible for sending money to his children in Kenya to make sure that they could go to school and get the education necessary for them to be successful.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I then did what is normally not very polite but I had to know. I asked Francis how old he was. Francis then told me that he was 63 years old. I asked why he always seemed to be so happy? Francis gave me four very simple happiness principles. They are as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-justify:inter-ideograph"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">1.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Be thankful for your life, your family, and your friends and the opportunities that you are given.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">2.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Don’t measure your success based on the possessions that you acquire, measure your success on your contribution and service to your community, your family, and society in general.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">3.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Accept that every challenge, failure or obstacle that faces you in life is part of your lifelong education and helps to mold WHO you become.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">4.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Realize that all you really need is a full stomach, a purpose in life, and love for yourself and the people in your life especially the ones that are hardest to love because they need it the most. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I still look forward to having conversations with Francis as much as I can. It is amazing how you can meet a complete stranger and have a conversation, only to realize how much more there is to learn about being a completely happily successful human being not just a human doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Final Thought:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Keep your mind and heart open, and always give yourself away.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-20113290833742440332011-03-18T10:09:00.000-07:002011-03-18T10:10:50.944-07:00Build A Support Team<!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape 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font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span></u></b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;"></span></b></span><i style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“</span></i><a href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/if_i_have_seen_further_than_others-it_is_by/220369.html"><i style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.</span></i></a>”</p><i style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></i> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><i style=""><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Isaac Newton</span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">When you think of successful people either in the present or in past history we focus on their individual accomplishments and successes. But if you explore deeper you will find that no one is successful by themselves. Success usually comes by building a camp of people around you that offer sound advice and support for accomplishment. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">It could be family, friends, co workers, mentors or any combination of people that you decide. You will develop multiple support teams for multiple and specific goals. No one group can be specific for every goal or objective. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span>Successful presidents, athletes, entrepreneurs, and parents all realize that success in every area of life depends greatly on the people that you pick for your support team. It’s like a fighter preparing for that world title bout. You need to be surrounded by people who will support you in your goals but will also give you that kick in the ass when you need it most if you get down or lazy and lose your focus. They will tell you things that you need to hear not just what you want to hear.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">When I was a teenager, I made it a point to surround myself with a core group of friends that supported me and that I supported. They also told me what I needed to hear sometimes not just what I wanted to hear. I made it a point to associate and try to get along with most people that I came into contact with, however I always had a small core group of close friends that I chose to associate with.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Start today and determine what you want to accomplish and what support team you need to form. Being a part of other’s support system is just as important in helping you determine who should be in yours.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"><span style=""> </span>ASSIGNMENTS</span></b></span></p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Determine what your objective is and decide what individuals you need to surround yourself with that may have the attitude and/or experience needed for your Support team.</span></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Prepare yourself for the things that you need to hear and not just what you want to hear.</span></b></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">Take action based on the feedback you receive.</span></b></span></li></ol>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-8124399171166060542011-03-18T06:12:00.000-07:002011-03-18T10:06:54.822-07:00Pulverize Procrastination<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> 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border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;" valign="top"><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Like a Ninja slipping silently into a castle to assassinate the evil warlord because he has wreaked havoc on surrounding villages, you need to slip into your mind and find the thoughts and feelings that have wreaked havoc on your ability to follow through on tasks.</span></p><div> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We all do IT. What is IT? Procrastinate! We put off those tasks that we don’t look forward to doing. The procrastinator’s creed is ‘Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?’ We push them to the bottom of our to do list only to find out that they didn’t disappear into thin air and that we still need to get them done. Procrastination afflicts millions of people and has negative effects on productivity and sense of accomplishment.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Reasons for Procrastination are:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Perfectionism</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Self-Inadequacies</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lack of Motivation</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Lack of Focus</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">High Frustration/ Low Tolerance</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Procrastination leads to:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wasted Time</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Missed Opportunities</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Poor Performance</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Increased Stress</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Overcoming Procrastination empowers your ability to: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Have Peace of Mind</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Empower yourself with strength of Purpose</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Take Charge of Your Life</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Feel Strong, Capable, and Confident</span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Ways of Overcoming Procrastination</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ul style="text-align: justify;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Target and deal with the reasons that you procrastinate and practice doing the opposite.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Set a schedule or a time line for accomplishment.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Chunk the task into smaller pieces so that you see instant progress and so the task doesn’t seem so big.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Rather than push too hard take small breaks but get right back to the task at hand.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Do It Now! </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Say it out loud. Get someone to hold you accountable. </span></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Start training like a Ninja today and everyday to assassinate procrastination.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" > </span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-78075850391715428382011-02-02T05:27:00.000-08:002011-04-18T05:44:18.202-07:00Look for The Best and Overcome the Rest.What is your Best? What is your families best? What are your co worker's or client's best? What is best in your friends? In a world that leans more towards looking for faults rather than a good find, it's sometimes hard to focus on what is best in us personally and the people, places, and things around us. It really comes down to what you are looking for. Focus is everything! It's like the idea of coincidence or serendipity. People who experience more of the two are usually more focused on what is best around them and they have a tendency to find it. If you change your focus everything changes. The latest brain research even proves that we have what are called Mirror Neurons in our brains. When someone smiles at you these neurons start firing off and your brain signals that you should smile. Another example is if you see someone yawn. What do you usually end up doing? In a world where bad news sells we need to be guarded when it comes to our attitudes and not let things like media blind us to all the good that is around us. The title "Focus on the best and overcome the rest" has allot of meaning because what you focus on expands and that expands you. So would you rather focus on looking for the best in the people, places, or things around you or focus on the opposite. It's Up To You! You create your world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-74659361933219531542011-01-17T07:26:00.000-08:002011-01-17T07:38:23.665-08:00Take Action!In my lifetime I know that I have had to overcome over planning which led to procrastination and not moving on my thoughts and ideas. Don't get me wrong planning is essential to being successful in any goals, whether they are personal or professional. There comes a time when you need to move froward and adjust as you go along. No plan for any goal is perfect. It's like whitewater kayaking. You know the path of the rapids, you know how to use the equipment, but you need to strap on the helmet get in the kayak, and start paddling.<br /><br />Your goal is to pick the right current, and navigate around the hazards, but many times you smack into a boulder or you get turned upside down. That's when you learn the most and modify your plan from those experiences. The most important thing is to FOCUS on your goal and the plan you have developed, then FOLLOW THROUGH and take massive action, Be FLEXIBLE and learn and adapt as you go, and most of all do it FAST!<br /><br />I don't mean fast as in speed, I just mean RIGHT NOW! So, what have you been meaning to do and planning on doing but you have not starting doing? Get STARTED!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-2982174216248898662011-01-10T13:28:00.000-08:002011-01-11T04:50:21.495-08:00Let Go, or Let Grow!In our lives letting go is sometimes the hardest thing to do. Letting go of relationships that may not be supportive or even destructive. Letting go of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">possessions</span> out of fear that we may be losing something. More often than not, when you decide to let go of the people or things in your life that aren't supportive, loving, and empowering you are actually setting yourself up to be surrounded with the people and things that you really need.<br /><br />A good example is having a friend that tells you what you want to hear, and having one that tells you what you need to hear. It's what you need to hear that matters most. Are you someone who wants to keep the peace or find some inner peace in order to make yourself feel more centered, balanced, and empowered.<br /><br />Who or what do you need to let go of? It's a great idea to sit down and make a let go list and a let grow list. Kind of like the traditional pros and cons list. Make a list of people, things, habits, or attitudes that you need to let go of. Now make a let grow list that has the same things only ones that are supportive and empowering. You'll find that this type of documented reflection will help you to find the answers that you have been seeking.<br /><br />So, my final questions is; Are you going to Let Go, or Let Grow? It's up to you!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-13127457726666128892010-07-05T05:49:00.000-07:002011-04-18T06:02:26.195-07:00Influence vs. AuthorityVery often when I speak to groups I ask the question when you were in school how many Teachers left a lifelong impact on you? The highest count I usually get is three. Why is it that number is so low? When you think about the dozens of teachers that you had in your school career from Kindergarten to high school or college that percentage is alarmingly low. My opinion is that it's because the Teachers that left a lifelong impact were Influencers not Authoritarians. Whether you are a Parent, Teacher, Entrepreneur, or CEO of a major corporation, you can lead by influencing others by first of all modeling the attitudes and behaviors that you would like others to demonstrate. Emerson said it best; "What you do speaks so loud I can't hear what you say." As an Influencer it is important to catch people doing things right. So often we all have a tendency to focus on what people are doing wrong. When that's the case then the people you want to lead and/or influence are closed to most of what you say expecting the negative influence. In order to influence you want people around you to be receptive to what you say when you interact with them. Influencing them is about helping them to move in a direction that empowers all. Parents want to influence their children to do the right thing and make good decisions and choices. Teachers want to influence their students to stay focused, and work hard on their school work. Business owners want to influence their employees to be independent thinkers and self starters. When it comes right down to it you can get more accomplished through influence rather than force.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-33599297863214650812010-06-28T07:09:00.000-07:002010-07-01T12:03:43.441-07:00What's Your Vision Prescription?Goals, Vision, Imagination, and Innovation are personal ideas of how you see things that could be in your mind's eye. I know as a teacher, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">entrepreneur</span>, husband, and parent I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">didn't</span> understand why the people around me <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">didn't</span> always understand my vision and ideas when I shared them. I would be excited and share it with some people and they got it. Others however would look at me with a confused expression or one of disapproval. I then would get a bit frustrated, even upset when others <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">didn't</span> get it.<br /><br /><br />After awhile I started to realize that it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wasn't</span> their fault that they <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">didn't</span> get it. It was my fault in the way I shared it with them. I started to realize that not everyone has the same Vision Prescription. Just like having your eyes checked to see what type of vision you have 20/20/,20/40, near sighted, or far sighted I started to focus on what type of mind's eye prescription people had in order to share my thoughts and ideas. As a leader of a family, company, or classroom you must become the optometrist for new ideas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">20/20 Vision</span></strong><br /></p><br /><p align="left">If a person has 20/20 vision it is easier to share your ideas because they have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">a tendency</span> to see clearer. Just like you, they have great vision in there own ideas, innovation, and imagination. 20/20 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">doesn't</span> need vision glasses <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> they are capable of seeing and understanding out of the box concepts and ideas. They have visual thought process and often see in pictures. The picture of what could be is clear. Their vision is not blurred.<br /></p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">20/40 Vision</span></strong></p><br /><p align="left">Those with 20/40 vision are capable of seeing the vision but still need assistance in making it more clear. They can and want to understand the vision, but it will be up to you to help them get all the way. You will need to give them a vision prescription that is not blurred. Perception is everything. If you look at something with total clarity it makes sense. If you see it with blurred vision then it is more difficult to grasp the same thing.<br /></p><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Near Sighted</span></strong></div><br />Near sighted vision can see things off in the distance, but have difficulty seeing what is right in front of them. They have difficulty in grasping any vision, ideas, or innovation that are here and now. They have a tendency to use statements like one day, or if the weather was better, or if I had a different boss or spouse. They focus more on conditions rather than creating the conditions that create change.You may need the assistance of your 20/40 vision people to help them see clearer and grasp the idea that everything is first created by an idea and a vision of what does not already exist.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Far Sighted</span></strong></div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><div align="left"><br />Far sighted vision can't see things in the distance. They can however see things up close. In communicating to the Far sighted you need to share your ideas in chunks so that they can move closer to the distant idea or vision that you have. Remember with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sharing</span> you vision with the far sighted <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">inch</span> by inch and everything is a cinch.</div><p>So work on writing the correct prescription for the correct vision sight. It will be much easier to get others to see clearly.<br /></p><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-6912562498850799992010-06-22T06:48:00.000-07:002010-07-05T09:19:16.871-07:00Don't Get Stuck In The PLOP!How do you handle stress, fatigue, and anxiety? We all have stress, but very few of us have developed a personal system of how to handle it. So often we get so stressed out that the only thing we can focus on is the stress, and like I have said before whatever you focus on expands. I know that in the past the things that stressed me out or caused me to worry seemed so large and after all was said and done they really weren't cause for all that worry and stress.<br /><br />You need to come up with a series of questions that you ask yourself to analyze how important something is or isn't. This reminds me of a time that my wife and I wanted to take a vacation. We own our own business and vacationing was not always possible. Plus with three children it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">definitely</span> was a challenge to say the least. Finding someone to keep the kids a major mission. So, Our oldest two children stayed with family. Close friends of ours offered to keep our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">youngest</span> son who was six at the time.<br /><br />This worked out great because their son Jimmy was good friends with our son, so we felt confident about the arrangement. We left and had a wonderful time in Jamaica for a week. When returning I remember walking into our friends front door only to be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">greeted</span> by an excited and energetic Jimmy. Mind you, Jimmy was one of those six year <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">olds</span> that had a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">vocabulary</span> as if he were an adult that shrunk. He came running up to me and said " <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">MMMMr</span>. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Elkins</span> you <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">wwwwon't</span> believe what we did". I quickly laughed at his excitement and at the fact that he was so excited he was stuttering. I responded and said "What did you do?. He said "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">WWWWe</span> went to the Circus". I then said" That's awesome". Jimmy said"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">NNN</span>0! That's not the best part". I then said "What's the best part?" He then said "We saw an elephant!" I said "That's really cool." Jimmy again followed with "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">TTThat's</span> not the best part." Finally I said to Jimmy "Tell me the best part". <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Jimmy</span> then said" We were standing behind the elephant and we moved out of the way just in time, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">because</span> the elephant lifted his tail up and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">plopped</span> on the ground."<br /><br />At this point I said to Jimmy " It's a good thing you stepped out of the way or you would have gotten stuck in the plop." After that I looked at my wife and said I can use this. She looked at me and just shook her head. Do you allow yourself to get stuck in the plop when most of the time you can step out of the way. It's important for us to remind ourselves that we have the power to put things in perspective in such a way that things just aren't as stressful as we make them out to be. One more thing. Learn how to say NO. That has been a constant challenge for me. Taking on so much wanting help others and make a contribution that the only thing that happens is STRESS. So, step out of the way and don't get plopped on.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-5094613831677061292010-06-10T05:51:00.000-07:002010-06-21T09:20:52.554-07:00The Power Of Three.For years I have had that things to do list in my planner and always ended up feeling a bit frustrated at the end of the day when reviewing what I really got checked off. The list was always too long, and pretty much unrealistic in reference to getting things done. I decided that less is more and adopted the idea of The Power of Three. I still have my things to do list, however I have three things and only three things to accomplish on it in order of priority.<br /><br />Number one being the most important item that needs to get done. If I only get that done then the feeling I link to it is one of satisfaction and accomplishment. Number two then becomes number one and I add one more to the list. After working this idea for a period of time I realized that it was effective in many different areas of my life.<br /><br />In my business I have the three foot rule for customer service. When I train my staff I explain to them that we want to condition our clients that three feet before they walk into our business they should start to experience good feelings and a sense of positive anticipation. After taking three steps into the business we as staff members should have confirmed that expectation with how we greet them. When interacting with anyone we want to<br /><br />The Power of Three also works well with personal relationships at home. When you get home, what happens in the first three minutes pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the evening. If you are in a relationship, how you interact with that other person in the first three minutes is crucial. Do you walk in and look around for things to complain about or do you say " I am glad to see you". That makes the difference.<br /><br />Another area the Power of Three works is Mind, Body, and Spirit. When it comes to mind I often ask people; What was the last book that you read? The response is many times one of confusion. I also ask what are they learning. Whether it is playing the guitar, painting, taking a college course, or learning a new language. Learning new things expands you as a human being. Become a lifetime learner. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Remember</span> if you are not expanding then you are contracting. Come up with three things that you could learn to expand your mind. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Take</span> one at a time.<br /><br />When it comes to body. What physically are you doing to be active, eat better, and create the energy that helps you to be more enthusiastic about life in general. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">nutrition</span> and exercise industry is a multi billion dollar a year industry. One of the things it does not focus on is what is practical for you. It could be walking everyday for twenty minutes. Very often when I work one on one with students I ask them; How many push ups do you do everyday? The response many times is none or I am not good at push ups. Well could you do three push ups a day? Could you make three healthy food choices? Start small, but be consistent.<br /><br />The Human Spirit needs to be constantly renewed. It reminds me of Eagle behavior. Most people don't realize that when eagles fly at lower altitudes they are constantly being attacked by crows pecking at them. The fact is, that an eagle could clearly focus on pursuing the crows and kill them. However the eagles strategy is to fly to a higher altitude that the crows cannot reach. What inspires you to fly to a higher altitude? It could be your faith, reading inspiring literature, or that green time of getting closer to nature. Find out what that is for you and make sure you do it when your spirit feels weakened. I think you will see the difference.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-68062643686991364722010-04-19T05:55:00.000-07:002010-04-26T06:41:51.354-07:00What's your Bucket List?We have all heard of the bucket list. That's that list of things that you want to do before you die. I was really moved by the Movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman titled "The Bucket List". After watching it I pondered what my bucket list was. I started to think about things that I wanted to accomplish, places I wanted to travel, things that I wanted to learn, and people I would like to meet. Then it came to me, instead of emptying the the bucket I wanted to create a fill the bucket list.<br /><br />Isn't life really about the journey not the destination. It's the ride that's most exciting. Accomplishing goals is only one small piece to life. Sure you get that sense of completion and accomplishment. But then what? For me owning or acquiring more STUFF is not important at all. When you are on your death bed will you think about all the stuff you had? Or will you think about relationships, experiences, travel, your contribution to your family, community, and the world?<br /><br />Think of the times when you went somewhere you have never been. When you experienced something like a roller coaster ride for the first time. When you did something totally selfless for another person without expecting anything in return. That's the most meaningful way to fill your bucket.<br /><br />Life Lesson:<br /><br /><ol><li>Make a list of things that you can fill your bucket with.</li><li>Break it down into people, places, and things, with more emphasis on the first two.</li><li>Next to each one write down the feeling you will experience when you put them in your bucket.</li></ol><p>Now get started! Remember if you don't take the time to do the lessons then you are no closer to filling that bucket. </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-78501466390464299072010-04-09T06:07:00.000-07:002010-04-09T10:00:28.637-07:00Are you Here?<div align="center"><strong><em>Forever is composed of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">nows</span>.</em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em>--Emily <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dickenson</span></em></strong></div><strong><em></em></strong><br /><br />That old phrase "Stop and smell the roses" has incredible wisdom to it. To me, the most important word is "STOP"! In society today we are so hyper stimulated with the pace of things we forget to stop and seek out what inspires us. With the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">internet</span>, cell phones, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span>, twitter, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">ipod</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">ipads</span>, laptops and whatever else you can think of we are so connected all the time we have forgotten how to disconnect. After all, what is life all about? Don't get me wrong, I use technology just like everyone else but I have learned that there is an off button.<br /><br /><br />Don't we need to find our inspiration in order to recharge our mental, physical, and spiritual batteries. WHAT INSPIRES YOU. It could be music, art, biking, reading, hiking, writing, yoga, or anything that helps you to get grounded and totally develop the art of being in the present. There are certain people that I make sure that I spend time with that inspire me. I love to read biographies about people who have made a difference in not just their own lives but the lives of others. Reading about their victories and the challenges and obstacles that they had to overcome. That inspires me.<br /><br /><strong><em>Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed. -- Wayne Dyer<br /><br /></em></strong><strong><em></em></strong>Spend time with children and PLAY. Reconnect with their innocence and the simple way they approach life. They are not thinking about the future or past but being totally in the moment. What a skill that truly is. I have been a professional martial arts educator for close to thirty years. I have a friend that I have trained with over the years that goes to Japan every few years to train with his master who is in his eighties. My friend told me of a powerful lesson that he learned the last time he went to Japan to train. His master had him watch other students as they practiced their movements and explained that you can tell the personality of a student by the way they perform their movements.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"><strong><em>Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">have</span> for sure is what is right here right now. Don't miss it. -- Leo <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Buscaglia</span><br /></em></strong><br /></p>He said that if a student is always leaning forward and into the movement that they are too focused on the future. While another student is always leaning back because they are stuck in the past. My friend's master said that true mastery means that you are centered, not leaning forward or backward and totally in the moment. That example really helped me personally as a teacher and communicator.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-48788430297078433642010-04-02T05:34:00.000-07:002010-04-02T06:22:14.068-07:00Spend Time with Living History.When I was five years old my family moved to a farm. My parents rented a house on the farm that happened to be next door to an elderly couple, Mr. & Mrs. Lambert. They were the parents of the farm owners wife. Mr. Lambert would always go out in the evening and sit in an old comfortable chair in his front yard until it got dark outside. By the time I was nine or ten I would go down and sit with Mr. Lambert. We had great conversations. Listening to him was like having a living history lesson. You see, Mr. Lambert at that time was well into his eighties. He had not only seen it all, but lived through it all. From the great depression to the world wars.<br /><br />I know one of the reasons for my need to spend time with the Lamberts was the fact that I had only one living Grandparent, my Grandmother on my Father's side and never really got an opportunity to spend any time with her. So there was this inner yearning for connecting with that generation.<br /><br />I learned so much from Mr. Lambert including a formula that I still use today. I call it ASL. It stands for Ask, Shut Up, and Listen. I learned more from him about real history than any text book could offer me. After all aren't text books someone's opinion or perception of historical events. You can't always believe all that you read. Everyday, I would try to do my homework in the school bus on the way home so that I could do my chores and then go and sit with Mr. Lambert. I would also do chores for he and Mrs. Lambert just to be able to spend time with them.<br /><br />My parents taught me right from wrong. The Lamberts showed me how to apply it through the way they conducted themselves. The way they treated each other, even the way they disagreed was a lesson. I think that so much is lost in our society today. Children don't get the opportunity to interact with our living history as much as in the past. In the past when grandparents got on in age they would live with their children and grandchildren. By doing that they passed on family history, traditions, and stories. They helped to pass on lessons in respect, compassion, and empathy. As adults I think it's important to spend time with our living history. Visiting regularly with senior family members, neighbors, or visiting someone in a seniors home.<br /><br />In closing, the next time you think about reading a history book, why don't you go instead and talk to one. It will be better for you and it will brighten another persons day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-33497347409539143142010-03-31T07:10:00.000-07:002010-04-02T05:34:32.510-07:00What's Your Face Value?<div align="center"><em><strong>A smile confuses an approaching frown.</strong></em></div><em><strong></strong></em><br /><em><strong></strong></em><br /><em><strong>What face do you take with you everyday?</strong></em> Is it one that when people see it they look forward to it or try to avoid it. I am not talking about the physical structure of the face you are born with. I am talking about how you structure your face. What expression do you use most? If you find that most people avoid you or would prefer not to interact with you then you might need to change your face. Not with plastic surgery but with a different expression.<br /><br /><br /><strong><em>I guess what I am really trying to say is SMILE!!!</em></strong> A smile makes you feel better and makes the people around you feel better. It's not always easy. There are times when you need to Fake It Til You Feel It! But when you develop the habit of smiling more just like laughing regularly you literally signal your brain to release endorphins into your system that are known as the feel good chemical. It's been proven that endorphins are more powerful than heroin. The best part is that it's legal and FREE. Let's face it, there are days when we need to just decompress and take a nap. It is impossible to feel great all the time. That's alright! How about we decide to walk around feeling good at least most of the time.<br /><p align="center"><strong><em>A smile is infectiuos, </em></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em>You can catch it like the flu,</em></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em>Someone smiled at me today,</em></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em>And I started smiling too.</em></strong><br /></p><p></p><p>How infectious are you? Do you inject people with viruses or vitality? I know that I have developed the habit of smiling when I most need it.That is when I start to feel angry or upset with someone or something. I know that if I can smile then I can laugh and that helps me to keep control of my anger or frustration at any given time. You may say that It's not that easy, and you are correct. What habit is easy. It takes focus, practice, and commitment. The more you focus on it and stay <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">committed</span> to it, the easier it gets. </p><p>Just think how it feels the next time that you see someone coming towards you that may have an expression on their face that is less than open and inviting. Those are the same feelings and signals that you send if you are using the same expression. I know one thing about life. The older I get the more I realize that my thoughts, expressions, and feelings are all really dependent on what I decide they should be, and not what others or the environment decides they should be. </p><p>You will be a much more effective communicator and a whole lot happier if you just get in the habit of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">SMILING</span>. <strong><em>What's your face worth?<br /></em></strong></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-1322371033152472262010-03-30T09:49:00.000-07:002010-03-31T06:23:36.473-07:00What is Your Agenda?<div align="center"><em><strong>"Don't be a time manager, be a priority manager."</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>---Keith Elkins</strong></em></div><br />Do you start the day with a to do list or agenda of what you want to get accomplished? I know that I do. I need that daily checklist or agenda of things that I need to accomplish, just to stay on task. However, I found that many times I would get derailed from my agenda by the agenda of everyone around me, family, friends, and co-workers. At the end of the day I would look at what I set out to accomplish that day and experience a level of frustration because I didn't even get close.<br /><br />I would let others impose what they needed to get done on me as if it were more important then what I had planned to accomplish for myself. I am not talking about being selfish and self centered. I am not talking about not being willing to help others. I am talking about you not being responsible for other's to do list. Time management is pretty much a joke. <strong><em>TIME</em> <em>MARCHES ON!</em></strong> We cannot manage time, but we can manage ourselves and our priorities. So, I learned to say <strong><em>"NO"!</em></strong> That was difficult for me because my nature is to help others. But at the end of the day I started to feel a sense of resentment towards the people around me that I love and care about. Not a great feeling to have. Then I discovered that it wasn't their fault at all. It was my responsibility to manage my time as I see fit.<br /><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>What are your top three priorities for the day? </strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong><br /> </div></strong></em>Because my nature was always to drop everything when someone wanted me to, I discovered that I had literally trained them to expect me to do so. Saying NO was quite the surprise for them. I have developed what I call <em><strong>The Rule of Three</strong></em>. I list in my planner the top three most important things for me to accomplish that day and I stay focused on just that. After doing this I feel better about what I get accomplished and have retrained the people around me to not always expect me to drop all of my priorities for theirs. I now guard my time and my agenda. Funny thing is that it has actually empowered those people around me to do the same for themselves. <em><strong>Interesting how just saying NO can empower everyone.</strong></em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7244351196559315729.post-5124378411724320482010-03-28T05:57:00.000-07:002010-03-31T06:57:22.099-07:00Who Are You Laughing At?<div align="center"><em><strong>A long laugh and a good sleep are the best cures in a doctor's book.</strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong>--- Irish Proverb </strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong><br /></div><p></strong></em>It's been proven that laughter is a healthy and healing habit. So, why don't we do it more often? The medical community has done countless studies that show that comedy, and laughter actually aid in improving <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">psychological</span>, and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">physiological</span> well being.The greatest skill we can develop as individuals is the skill of laughing at ourselves. As preschoolers we found it easy to laugh. Then when we started our schooling, we developed fears of being laughed at by our peers or being the focus of a joke. Making a mistake in front of others became painful and created fear of failure, criticism, and humiliation.<br /></p><p align="center"><em><strong>"I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose."</strong></em></p><p align="center"><em><strong>Woody Allen</strong></em></p><p align="center"><em><strong><br /></strong></em>Overcoming those fears involves you accepting that failing and making mistakes is a part of a process. Failing forward is an important lesson. Like falling down, if you fall forward, when you get up you are just a little closer to your objective. Provided that you learn from it. The process in learning what not to do and how to correct it. No individual that has experienced any level of success in any area of life has always made the perfect decisions. Keep your sense of humor, and learn to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too serious. </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16051783416065140233noreply@blogger.com0